What next and where to find it?

[minesadouble]

My youngest daughter is rapidly outgrowing her Superstar Connemara so we're soon going to be looking for a 15.2 for her. She's 14 and quite tall.
She's only been riding since she was 11, in that time she's gone from being my only non-horsey daughter to the keenest of them all.
Her first pony was a perfect, steady away, coloured cob, she then took an interest in competing and did some small unaffiliated SJ with him and a little bit of dressage.
18 months ago we bought a fabulous Schoolmistress Connie mare on whom she has done unaff ODE, Arena Eventing, dressage and affiliated WHP, all with great success.
I'm a little reluctant to buy anothet older 'been there and done it' type of horse as the mare we have is now 17 and I'm not sure I can bear to sell her (we also have a retired 12.2 and a retired 13.2 in permanent residence!) but at the same time I'm mindful that my daughter isn't really that experienced.
Would you look at something younger and perhaps inexperienced, take the middle, scarily expensive, ground ( we would have a 5 figure budget but won't stretch to 20k) or take the view that a more seasoned horse would be better suited to make the transition from ponies to horses?

 

[paddi22]

I'd loan out the connie and have a look at at trying to find a loan of an older horse winding down its career for a few years until she is established on a horse. i'd ask around instructors who might know as someone that has something that suits. if you were buying i'd get something with experience, as it's a massive jump to go from two schoolmasters to a green horses, and a lot of kids lose confidence easily and doubt themselves if they haven't ridden green types before.

 

[TheMule]

Buy the older experienced horse- the transition rarely works well onto an inexperienced horse

 

[ihatework]

Honestly I'd go the older horse route.
Depending on how good the connie is, you might even be able to lease if you can't bear to sell.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

After watching friend buy her daughter a young inexperienced pony and the kid being g frightened to death then definitely go the older horse route. The kid is still nervous 2 years on riding the same pony. No fun for her at all.

 

[Wishfilly]

At 14, I do think her preference has to come into it a bit. With a green horse, she'd likely need to take steps back in her competing- is she prepared to do this? I do appreciate keeping several older horses is expensive, but it sounds like your Connemara could either go out on loan, or even find a new home at this stage- a 17yo pony who's still able to compete will likely be snapped up at PC!

I'm a massive fan of Connies and native ponies in general, and I do think riding them and jumping them is very different to horses- I do appreciate this is a bit of a generalisation, but I find they are much cleverer with their feet and able to keep you both out of trouble in all sorts of situations. In general they can read things and sort it out with less input from the rider than a lot of horses, especially jumping. I think transitioning to green and horse that might have a less "clever" brain could be a step too far.

If your daughter wants something green, then to be honest I would try to find an overheight Connie (I appreciate they are not cheap either)- at 14 she may well stop growing very soon!

 

[Patterdale]

I would buy a nice 5-7 year old 15.2 now and let her start bringing it on whilst she is still riding the pony.

Younger ponies are great if you have good support, especially for young people. Been there done that types put so much pressure on them - if she gets a nice horse doing 70 now and gradually creeps it up the heights she will feel such a sense of achievement and learn so much.

You definitely don’t need to spend 5 figures. I’ve never spent more than 5k and I’ve bought several since covid.

Temperament is all, get a kind and pretty one and make it what you want it.

 

[Patterdale]

Stunning Connemara pony

<p>This stunning pony has it all, an absolute superstar. The perfect step for dressage or showing, the big bold jump for showjumping and the brave attitude for x country. Hacks out alone or in company.<br /> <br /> He is never out of the winners enclosure with numerous wins in the showing ring...

www.horsequest.co.uk

kind - Handsome All rounder

<p>Handsome, gentle kind lad with a lovely nature.</p> <p>He is hacking out nicely and willing to go out alone although we don't see big traffic here just the odd tractor and cars.</p> <p>He is extremely clever and has a good brain easy to train attitude. He has his basic flatwork established...

www.horsequest.co.uk

Quality all rounder

<p>Buster is a real head turner a striking looking horse. He has been slowly professionally produced. Always in a snaffle never gets hot or fizzy just gets on with the job. <br /> <br /> Hes riding way beyond his years on the flat. Holds a soft supply outline and has three balance paces...

www.horsequest.co.uk

This sort of thing.

 

[minesadouble]

Thanks everyone! Many votes for the older option, I wish they were easy to find on loan as that would be the perfect solution!

I was hoping an overheight Connie might turn up as I feel a pony brain might ease the transition a bit.
I've been keeping my eyes open in the hope the perfect model will appear unexpectedly when we're not seriously looking but no joy yet.

Superstitious daughter thinks one will materialise in July as both of her previous ponies, who are just fabulous, were viewed in July, I do hope she's right

 

[AnShanDan]

I've know people buy both types for their kids and obv. the older schoolmaster is the more reliable bet but it can work with a younger horse/pony too.

Only you know your daughter and how resilient she is, youngsters will try riders sometimes but not always too much to deal with and you can end up with a much more valuable pony or horse to sell on, not another retiree!

I'd agree, if looking for something younger a pony x would prob. be the better idea, rather than a full sports horse.

For example, in our pony club, a girl brought a 5 year old connie along, everyone said it was mad...15 years later he is still a saint and teaching another teenager the ropes now. My own son got a 6 year old 14.2 at 12/13 years old, the next year he was going round the PC champs open eventing on him.

However, I've also seen it not work, usually down to too little input from instructors etc. so if you did go this route, I'd recommend a lot of lessons at the beginning.

 

[minesadouble]

She has weekly lessons with a good coach ATM and plenty of help so nothing would change there